Spring-hinge.



No. 723,186. I l PATBNTBD MAR,.17, 190e..` T.`R0GHE. H

i SPRING- HINGE.

l APPLICATION FILED NOV. 1| 1902. No MODEL.

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. um; I (L5 HI' t UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

TIMOTHY ROCHE, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF` TO JAMES A. SHANNON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

"spams-HINGE.

SPECIFICATION formngpart of Letters Patent` No. 723,186, dated March 17, 1903.

Application filed November 1, 1902. Serial No. 129,743. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom it mctyconcerm Be it known that I, TIMOTHY ROCHE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suolk and StateofMassachusetts, have invented certain new'and useful Improvements in Spring-Hinges; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

Myinvention relates to spring-hinges for doors. Its object is to provide a spring-hinge so constructed and'related to the door that the door maybe swung in either direction, closed again by the force of the springs, or

locked back if pushed beyond the median line in either direction.

To this end it comprises, essentially, a central rocking lever-arm lying vbetween leafsprings with accessory details.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is 'a plan View, and Fig. 2is a sectional view line 2 2 of Fig. 1. A

In the drawings, 1 represents a box-like casing or receptacle.-

2 represents upright guide-postsl in the receptacle 1, having antifriction-sleeves or roller-bearings 3.

4 represents leaf-springs having curledends or enlargements on the end 5 to prevent them from being drawn entirely through the space between the guide-posts 2. j

6 represents reinforcing bow-springs, which are anchored to posts 7.

Each leaf-spring 4 extends across the receptacle 1 and is guided by two of the posts 2, which are sufficiently close together to enable the roller-bearing 3 to contact with the side of the leaf-spring. The bow-spring6 is placed in such relation to the adjacent leaf-spring 4 that when the leaf-spring 4 is pressed out it may supplement and reinforce the action of the leaf-spring.

Centrally disposed between the two leafsprings 4is the double-ended rotatable leverarm 8, which has a bearing 9, shown herein as preferably of a ball form, with supplemental antifriction -balls 10, all playing in the socket-plate 1l.

beyondthe median line,

' l 12 isa block which closes the openingabout the ball-joint.

`13 is the upper journal of the lever-arm S, which turns in the top of the receptacle l and is retained in place bythe collar 114. The journal 13 is continued intoa squared post 15, which may take into a corresponding recess or other provision in the door, it being understood that the construction herein shown is intended to be placed beneath the door or above the door, as occasion or necessity may require, and that the means of engagement may be reversed.

16 represents antifriction-balls, which lie in appropriate receptacles in the ends of the lever-arm 8, retained therein by a strap 17, and projecting through the straps, so that they may bear against the leaf-springs 4.

In operation it will be obvious that the lever-arm may be swung in either direction.

`The eect will be the same on each side,

though the direction is reversed. One end jacent leaf-spring and press it out, While the opposite end will perform a similar operation upon the opposite leaf-spring. When the lever-arm moves to any point short of' a plane at right angles to the position shown., it will have the oppositely-directed forces Working together toclose the door and yet to close the door gradually. When the lever-armi swings the force of the spring will be exerted in the opposite direction and will therefore swing back the door againstthe wall or otherV guard, thereby locking it open.' As already stated, the effect of both springs 6 is to take up and reinforce the leafsprings 4 at just a time when the leaf-springs require additional force leither to close the door or to lock it open. Obviously the antifrict-ion-balls will give an easy action to the lever-arm, while the spaces between them enable the leaf-springs to take a firm hold at intervals.

The term leaf-spring is intended to cover any form of spring which Will furnish va spring-bearing for the end of the lever-arm.

In the several parts shown it is obvious that many details may be variously modified of the lever-arm will impinge against the ad- V within the skill of the mechanic Without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having fully described myinvention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l 1. In a spring-hinge, a rotatable lever-arm lying between leaf-springs.

2. In a spring-hinge, the combination of a pair of leaf-springs, a rotatable lever-arm lying between the springs, and reinforcingsprings.

3. In aspring-hinge, the combination of a pair of leaf-springs, a rotatable lever-arm lying between the springs, and a bow-spring lying in the path of action of each leaf-spring.

4. In a spring-hinge, the combination of a series of posts with roller-bearings, of a leafspring guided by the posts, and a rotatable lever-arm.

5. In a spring-hinge, the combination of a series of posts, leaf-springs guided by the posts and having enlarged ends, and a rotatable lever-arm. Y

6. In a spring-hinge, the combination of a. box-like receptacle, a series of posts with rol1er-bearin,.,vs,leaf-springs guided by the posts, a reinforcing spring for each leafspring, and a rotatable lever-arm.

7. In a spring-hinge, the combination of a rotatable lever-arm, and opposing springs so disposed that the lever-arm maybe swung in either direction, so that the door may be closed or opened and held or locked in the closed or open position according to the relation of the lever-arm to the median line.

In testimony whereof I a'x my signature in presence of two witnesses.

TIMOTHY ROCHE.

Witnesses:

JAMES H. KENNEY, JOSEPH R. YENDLEY. 

